Fence



(No Model.)

W. H. MASON.

FENCE.

No. 571,491. Pafe nted-Nov. 17, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM II. MASON, OF EAST MONROE, OHIO.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 571,491, dated November 17, 1896. Application filed August 15, 1895. Serial No. 659,406. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM H. MASON, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Monroe, in the county of Highland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to fences.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, and strongly-constructed fence, the wires of which may be easily and quickly tightened to compensate for any sag in the same.

\Vith these objects in View the invention consists of certain features of construction and combination of parts which will be here inafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved fence. Fig.

2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective of one of the stays. Fig. 4

is a detail perspective of one of the tighteners.

In the drawings, 1 denotes the end posts, and 2 one of the line-posts. Wire-tighteners 3 are secured to the end posts, and wires 4 are twisted around these tighteners and extend to the line-post 2. Each of these tighteners consists of a short rod 3, having an aperture 3 through which the end of the Wire is passed, oppositely-extending hooks 3, and the squared head 3, by means of which the tightener is turned. These wires and posts constitute one of the panels of which the fence is composed, and I will describe the invention in connection with the same.

5 denotes a wooden stay which has alternating notches 6 in each side to receive the strands of wire. The notches are cut at an angle across the stay, so that when the wires enter them a kink is formed in the wires on each side of the stay, which prevents it from slipping longitudinally on the wires. The stay is inserted between the Wires, one wire being on one side of the stay and the next on the other side, and so on, and in this position the stay is inclined at the proper angle to allow all the wires to enter the notches except the top wire. The stay is now moved to an upright position, and the top notch '7 of the stay, which is cut at a reverse angle to the other notches, will engage the top Wire of the fence, thus effectively locking the wire to the stay.

It is evident that the spreading of the wires by the insertion of the stays and the kinks made in them by passing through the notches of the stays will compensate for all sag in the wires and make the fence tight and strong. As the alternating wires are arranged on the opposite sides of the stays, it is evident that at one point in their length between the stays they will cross each other. In order to hold them in this position and to brace them at this point, I provide a metallic angle-stay 8, having at its angle notches through which the wires are passed and in which they are held by vertical rods 9.

The posts of this fence may be braced in any suitable or well-known manner, but in the present instance I have shown a bracebar 10, which has one end mortised into the end post intermediate of its ends and its other end mortised in one of the line-posts. Bracewires 11 are secured to the end post on its side opposite to the side to which the wire tighteners are secured and will serve to prevent the end post twisting due to the strain imparted to it in the act of tightening the wires by the tighteners. Wire cables 12 may also be attached to this post and have their lower ends secured to rocks or other anchors buried in the ground.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a fence, the combination of the posts, wires strung to the posts, and pickets or stays, each having on its opposite sides alternating notches extending obliquely in the same direction to receive the alternating wires when the pickets or stays are slanted sufficiently to bring the notches parallel or in line with the fence -wires, and each of said pickets having a reversely-arranged oblique notch at one end, whereby when said picket or stay is raised to a vertical direction and one of the wires forced into said reversely-arranged notch, kinks will be formed in the wires to prevent the picket or stay being slid thereon, and the reverselyarranged notch of said picket or stay will lock the same in its vertical direction against the strain of the other Wires, substantially as described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a stay or picket for fence-Wires, having a series of alternating notches on its opposite sides, said notches extending obliquely in the same direction, said picket or stay having at one end a notch, which extends obliquely in a reverse direction, substantially as described.

In a fence, the combination of the posts, wires strung to the posts,and pickets or stays, each having on its opposite sides alternating notches extending obliquely in the same direction to receive the alternating Wires when the pickets or stays are slanted sufliciently to bring the notches parallel or in line with the fence-Wires, and each of said pickets havin g a reversely-arranged oblique notch at one end, whereby when said picket or stay is raised lo a Vertical direction and one of the Wires forced into said reverselyarranged notch, kinks will be formed in the Wires to prevent the picket or stay being slid thereon, and the reversely arranged notch of said picket or stay will lock the same in its vertical direction against the strain of the other Wires, said Wires being crossed in their length and a metallic angle-stay placed at the point of crossing to retain the Wires in position for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof 'I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

\VILLIAM H. MASON. Witnesses:

Boer. W ILsoN, S. S. Mason. 

